Other tidbits of information -

*If you have an attorney, the debt collector may not contact anyone other than your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live and work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such permissible third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

*Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.


*Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse anyone. For example, debt collectors may not:

use threats of violence or harm against the person, property, or reputation.

publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau).

use obscene or profane language.

repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.

telephone someone without identifying themselves.

advertise your debt.

*Debt collectors may not use any false statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:

falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives.

falsely imply that you have committed a crime.

falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau.

misrepresent the amount of your debt.

misrepresent the involvement of an attorney in collecting a debt.

indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not.

indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.

*Debt collectors also may not state that:

you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt.

they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so legally.

actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, which legally may not be taken, or which they do not intend to take.

*Debt collectors may not:

give false credit information about you to anyone.

send you a false official document made to look like it came from a court or government agency.

use a false name.

* You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date you believe the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered. Court costs and attorneys fees can also be recovered. A group of people also may sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000 or one percent of the collector's net worth, whichever is less.